ExOne S-Max

ExOne's binder jetting 3D printing technology is now being leveraged by CatalysisAdditiveTooling to 3D print tooling for low-to-medium volume production parts.

Taking a unique customer design, a sand mould is 3D printed using ExOne’s binder jetting technology, before being coated to become a re-usable tool that can be used in the production of a plastic, fibreglass or other composite part. The partners says the process is quicker and cheaper than traditional methods of producing tools, such as using casting, injection moulding and vacuum forming.

Catalysis is an Ohio-based company, which works with a host of manufacturers in the automotive, appliance, aerospace, medical, and packaging markets, among others. It has worked with these companies to develop tooling and manufacturing processes for metal forming, vacuum forming, and plastic injection moulding, working to reduce cost and lead time, and harnesses 3D printing to tackle some of the more complex tooling designs.

The company has sought to partner with ExOne to leverage its metal and sand printing capabilities, and believes it is an ‘excellent fit’ for its thermoforming, composite, and foam tooling applications.

“We are pleased to add ExOne’s binder jetting technology to our family of 3D printing offerings,” commented Darrell Stafford, Chief Executive Officer and President of Catalysis Additive Tooling. “We offer a number of different 3D printing technologies and select the best technology to meet and exceed our customers’ needs, based on specific application. Given its speed and volume capabilities, we are especially interested in binder jetting for production parts. ExOne offers the best solution to satisfy this need. With an ever-increasing number of applications, we are finding that our go-to technology for development of thermoforming, composite and foam tooling is binder jetting.”

“This collaboration with Catalysis represents yet another avenue for us to deliver the benefits of our 3D printing binder jetting technology to the market,” said Rick Lucas, ExOne’s Chief Technology Officer. “Catalysis’ broad and innovative customer base seeks the significant cost and efficiency advantages that out technology provides. We are excited to partner with Catalysis in helping their customers to innovatively differentiate themselves in the marketplace.”